Monday, May 7, 2012

The Ayers Foundation congratulates all 2012 graduates!
Special greetings go to the Scotts Hill High School recipients of the Ayers Foundation Scholarships.
Click the link below to hear a special message of encouragement from Governor Bill Haslam to the Class of 2012!

Scotts
Hill High School in Reagan, Tennessee celebrated an important day in the lives
of its 2012 senior class on Tuesday, May 8. Students, their families and school
leaders attended the annual End of Year Celebration hosted by The Ayers
Foundation.With an audience of
over 300, Dr. Brian Norton congratulated the class on their accomplishments so
far and the great opportunities that are available to them.

Through
the work of The Ayers Scholars Program, which includes the full time services
of a College Access Counselor (Belinda Reed), almost 90% of Scotts Hill seniors
plan on pursuing some form of post-secondary education?The Ayers Scholars Program will be
providing $400,000 in scholarships and the counselor has helped the students
secure additional scholarships of almost 1.5 million dollars.

Founder
Jim Ayers in his address to the students challenged each of them to realize how
the decisions they make at this point in life will have an effect on the
quality of their lives over the next 60+ years.Ayers encouraged the students to take advantage of their
Ayers’ scholarships and the excuse of not being able to afford to continue
their education had been eliminated.

A
surprise for each Ayers Foundation Scholar is a video greeting from Tennessee
Governor Bill Haslam, congratulating the students on their graduation.“Today marks the end of one journey,
but the beginning of a new adventure – your first one as a full- fledged adult”
Haslam remarked.“Today, I set a
challenge for you to be a life-long learner! A student for life” the Governor
exclaimed. Haslam also thanked Jim and Janet Ayers and The Ayers Foundation for
their work since 1999 to make education accessible to young people.